Syakti P. Sriyansyah, M.Pd.

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Teacher

Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

The ball is just

released
ME = ___ J
GPE = ___ J
KE = 0 J

GPE = 85 J
KE = 25 J

GPE = ___ J Highest

Speed of the ball when it reaches
KE = 60 J Bounce Point highest bouncing point = ___ m/s

GPE = 45 J
KE = __ J

GPE = 30 J GPE = __ J
KE = ___ J KE = __ J

GPE = __ J
KE = 25 J

GPE = 0 J GPE = 0 J
KE = __ J KE = ___ J
The amount of energy lost = __ J
The ball bounces.
(it is drawn in separated place to make it clear
Name : ___________________ Class : _________________

ENERGY
Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy (Part 1)
1. As a ski jumper glides down the hill towards the jump ramp and off the jump ramp
towards the ground, gravitational potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy.
Figure 1 shows a ski jumper of mass 60 kg starting at rest from the top of a 100 m hill.
What are the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of the ski jumper at the
various positions shown?

Figure 1. Ski jumper going down a slope

Potential Energy Kinetic Energy Mechanical Energy

Position
(PE) (KE) (ME)
A
B
C
D
E

2. This graph below shows a ball rolling from A to G. The ball starts at point A and rolls
to point G.

(a) At what letter does the ball have the greatest kinetic energy?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) Which letter shows the ball when it has the maximum potential energy?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(c) Which letter shows the ball when it has the least potential energy?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) Why could not the ball go back to the same height at which it started?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
Name : ___________________ Class : _________________

ENERGY
Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy (Part 2)
1. A bullet with a mass of 3.0 g travels at a speed of 400 m.s-1. Determine:
(a) mass of the bullet (in kg)
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) the kinetic energy of the bullet.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................[3]
2. A truck with mass 1500 kg is travelling with speed of 72 km/h. Determine:
(a) speed of the truck (in m/s)
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) the kinetic energy of the truck.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................[3]

3. A rubber ball of mass 0.12 kg is released from rest at a height of 1.8 m above the
ground. Calculate:
(a) the kinetic energy of the ball just before it hits the ground.
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) the velocity of the ball just before it hits the ground.
..........................................................................................................................................[1]

4. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 10 m/s. Gravitational acceleration

is 10 m/s2.
(a) Is the maximum kinetic energy when the ball starts to move upwards greater than,
less than or same as the potential energy at the highest position?
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
Explain your reasoning.
..........................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) What is the maximum height it can reach?
Hint: Do we need to find the mass of the ball?
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................[3]

5. A flower pot of mass 2 kg falls from a balcony. The height of the balcony from the
ground is 20 m.
(a) What is the change in potential energy when the flower pot falls to the ground?
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................[3]
(b) What happens to this energy?
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................[2]
Name : ___________________ Class/Date : _________________

MECHANICAL ENERGY
Conservation Law of Mechanical Energy (Part 3)
KE = ½mv2 GPE = mgh ME = KE + GPE

1. Calculate the potential energy, kinetic energy, mechanical energy, velocity, and
height of the skater at the various locations. [20]

2. The diagram above shows five different points on a roller coaster.

a. List the points in order from the point where the car would have the greatest
potential energy to the point where it would have the least potential energy. [2]

b. Now list the points in order from the point where the car would have the
greatest kinetic energy to the point where it would have the least kinetic energy.
[2]

c. Compare the 2 lists to each other. What do you notice about the lists? [1]
Name : ___________________ Class/Date : _________________

MECHANICAL ENERGY
Conservation Law of Mechanical Energy (Part 4)
KE = ½mv2 GPE = mgh ME = KE + GPE
1. Calculate the potential energy, kinetic energy, mechanical energy, velocity, and
height of the ball at the various locations. [22]

2. An object has a mechanical energy of 1575 J and a potential energy of 1265 J.

a. What is the kinetic energy of the object? [2]

b. If the mass of the object is 12 kg, what is its speed? [3]

c. How high above ground is the object? [3]